verdugo288

I called Vo on Friday night. With the partiers and hell-raisers we had playing for Verdugo…..I had a feeling not only would Vo be home to take my call…but he was probably the ONLY guy who I’d be able to reach via telephone on a Friday night.

Sure, enough he was there.

“I think you’re ready chief” I told him

“For what?” He asked.

“It’s a big game tomorrow….and I’m giving you the ball”

“Ok” he said….

“Just do me a favor …no fucking around out there ….get the fucking ball and fucking go at ’em”

He knew what I was talking about. I had him on my JV Team at CV in ’91. I always felt he took too much time between pitches. A little too cerebral. He had great stuff. Could work both sides of the plate at will and could throw his off-speed stuff for a strike at any time in the count.

Yeah he was small but it didn’t matter. He gave hitters fits…..

I could hear in his voice how happy he was when he said “okay!”

I remember telling my JV team in 1991 that season…..”You guys are out partying too much and raising hell….. you guys need to back off …I need to see a little more IBM and a little less David Lee Roth out of you guys!”

(Silence from the team as they sat there and looked at me)

“Well….except for YOU Parque! You need to start drinking! You? I need to see a little more David Lee Roth out of you and a little less IBM”

That got a roar out of the team.

A paid high school coach saying this kinda shit to his team? HELL YEAH!!!! Why? Because it was true.

Did I want him to start drinking and partying and raising hell? No…

But I made a point with him that needed to be made.

When I played ball at CV we were all drinking and smoking weed and ice-blocking at Verdugo Hills Golf Course. I was a kid once, too – ya know? I knew what these shit-heads were doing….that’s what you do when you’re that age.

And I never messed with his pitching mechanics….Jerry Reuss was coaching him and he also had his dad in his ear 24/7….he was fine. His dad was a wonderful man. Loved his kid….loved the game….and molded Vo into a force.

But dude….just pick up the pace huh? Please? You’re killing me!” Hahahahaha

And he did. And I thank him for that. And I think this was when Vo was at his best. When he just let his stuff do the talking and let his defense make some plays. Just get the fucking ball and fucking go at ’em.

And I will also say this. “The Friday-night-factor” played heavy into me giving him the ball on a Saturday. I knew he wouldn’t be out partying and raising hell the night before the game.

Sundays we were pretty cool because I had arranged for early evening games at Stengel …..and that gave some of the hangovers you guys were sporting about 6 more hours to wear off…..

One thing you could ALWAYS expect from Jim. He was ALWAYS mentally and physically prepared for having the ball.

Yeah ….he was ready.

I remember before this season talking to him on the phone and him expressing his disappointment in not getting enough starts on the mound when he was a sophomore at CV.

He WANTED the ball.

We got a huge game. Against a VERY good team. Pivotal. We gotta win this game. I didn’t need to tell him any of that shit. And I didn’t. He already knew. And he was ready.

I’m not so sure I was ready….because anything could have happened. But there comes that time where you just gotta go with your gut feeling.

Jim not only answered the phone that night….but as you’re about to read ….he also “answered the call” for us.